Father of New Kensington cop killer denied house arrest while awaiting trial

Gregory Baucum Jr. won’t have his bond lowered or be released from jail on house arrest while he awaits trial.

Baucum, 49, is the father of convicted New Kensington cop killer Rahmael Sol Holt. Baucum is in the Westmoreland County Prison, awaiting trial on charges of threatening or intimidating witnesses in his estranged son’s murder trial.

Westmoreland County Judge Rita Hathaway said Tuesday that releasing Baucum from jail to electronic home monitoring would be insufficient to protect those involved in Holt’s case.

“I just don’t feel that can ensure the safety of the community,” she said in denying Baucum’s request for nominal bond.

Baucum is accused of sending messages through Facebook to a witness in his son’s case. Police said Baucum also used the social media site to search for other witnesses, some of whom testified against Holt, 31, at trial earlier this month. Holt was convicted and sentenced to death for killing New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw after a traffic stop in 2017.

Baucum allegedly contacted the witness on Jan. 8 and said: “So u snitched on my son too, didn’t know that was u till I did my research,’” according to court papers. Police said Baucum took a photo of the witness’ February 2018 statement to authorities and sent it to her, posted it on his personal Facebook page and uploaded it to a closed Facebook group.

Facebook records obtained through a search warrant show the account in question was registered to Baucum, police said. He also used Facebook’s search function to look for other witnesses in Holt’s case, police said.

Some of those witnesses provided powerful testimony against Holt, Hathaway said.

Baucum has been held in the county jail in lieu $100,000 bond since his arrest in March.

Defense attorney Emily Smarto asked for electronic home monitoring, arguing that Baucum’s rights can be balanced with protection of prosecution witnesses. He is charged with witness intimidation and retaliation.

Assistant District Attorney Anthony Iannamorelli said Baucum faces a state prison sentence if convicted. Trial is tentatively scheduled for next week.

“I will try this case as soon as possible,” he said.

Baucum previously was acquitted of witness intimidation and other charges related to Holt’s arrest. A Westmoreland County jury deliberated a little more than an hour in June before finding him not guilty.

Prosecutors contended during trial that Baucum assaulted his girlfriend after learning she cooperated with police during the four-day manhunt for Holt after Shaw’s death. Baucum told reporters after the trial that the charges were a misunderstanding.